Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
5 9
TITLE OF THE INVENTION
APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING CAST PRODUCTS AND PROCESS THEREFOR
BAC~CGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a process
for producing cast products and, more particularly, to an
apparatus and a process in which non-solid materials including
water, paste-like chocolate, foodstuffs such as fish cake and
fish paste, stationery such as rubber erasers, and daily
necessities such as soap are filled in an elastic mold of open-
bag shape, and are then solidified to yield cast products.
Conventionally, a variety of cast products including
foodstuffs have been produced by using molds. Such conventional
molds have been constructed of a plurality of split molds made of
a rigid body in accordance with the configuration Gf cast
products to be obtained.
According to these conventional methods, materials are first
filled into the split molds to allow to solidify inside the
molds, and are then withdrawn by separating the split molds.
With such a conventional mold using the split mold, the
filing material is filled inside the split mold, and after the
filled material is solidified inside the split mold, the filled
material is withdrawn by dividing the split mold.
These split molds, however, tend to leave the mark of the
joint of the mold on the surface of the product thus formed,
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of molds and complicated production steps are required especially
when products of complicated shapes are desired to be formed.
Furthermore, since the split mold is made of a rigid body,
the manufacture of the split mold itself is so expensive that the
product cost tends to be high. Especially when a variety of
products are produced in small lots, the cost of the split mold
occupies a greater part of the total cost of the product, and
this almost prohibits the actual production of desired products.
In addition, if the split mold made of a rigid body is used,
in the case of a filling material whose volume changes with
temperatures when it solidifies, the split mold often breaks
under a high pressure or a vacuum which may be applied to the
mold during solidification.
Therefore, an apparatus for producing cast products has
earlier been provided which is capable of producing cast products
that are free from joint marks by using as a mold an elastic mold
having an open-bag shaped filling section, and which is capable
of reducing the production cost of the mold itself, of preventing
the breakage of the mold, and of substantially simplifying the
production process.
The cast product which has been solidified with the cast
product filled in the elastic mold and has been removed from the
elastic mold needs to be set upright when it is sold or
displayed.
However, there are cases where a portion of the elastic mold
in the vicinity of an opening thereof, which constitutes a bottom
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surface at the time when the produce is set upright,
fails to become level due to the surface tension or
viscosity of the filling material inside the elastic
mold, with the result that the stability of the cast
product becomes poor, resulting in reducing their
product values.
Accordingly, an object of an aspect of the present
invention is to provide an apparatus for producing cast
products which is capable of improving the stability of
lo the bottom portion of the cast product as a level
portion by making level the portion of the elastic mold
in the vicinity of the elastic mold prior to
solidification, thereby improving the product value.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To overcome the above-described problems, according
to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided
an apparatus for producing cast products, comprising: a
filling unit in which a non-solid material is filled
from a filling nozzle into an elastic mold having an
open-bag shaped filling section; a solidifying unit in
which the filled material is solidified inside the
elastic mold; and a withdrawal unit in which a
solidified product is withdrawn from inside the elastic
mold, wherein a leveling unit for oscillating the
elastic mold filled with the filling material by the
filling unit is attached thereto.
Another aspect of this invention is as follows:
A process for producing cast products, comprising:
a filling step in which a non-solid filling material is
30 filled from a filling nozzle into an elastic mold having
an open-bag shaped filling section; a solidifying step
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in which said filled material is solidified inside said
elastic mold; and a withdrawal step in which a
solidified product is withdrawn from inside said elastic
mold, wherein a leveling step for oscillating said
elastic mold filled with said filling material by said
filling step is attached thereto.
In an apparatus for producing cast products in
accordance with the present invention, a filling
material is first filled into an elastic mold by a
filling unit.
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An elastic material is used for this elastic mold since it
is necessary to withdraw cast or solidified products by causing
the overall body of the elastic mold to expand or contract by the
filling unit or the withdrawal unit.
Subsequently, the elastic mold is oscillated to the left and
the right by the leveling unit to make level the portion of the
elastic mold in the vicinity of the opening thereof.
After the fillinq material is thus filled in the elastic
mold, the filled material in the elastic mold is allowed to
solidify by the solidifying unit. Such a solidifying unit for
solidifying the filled material includes, for instance, a heating
unit or a freezing unit, depending on the properties of the
filling material.
Subsequently, the elastic mold is expanded in such a manner
that the filled material which has solidified in the elastic mold
is released from the mold, and the solidified cast product is
removed by the withdrawal unit for withdrawing the inner filled
material.
With respect to this withdrawal unit, by evacuating the
filling section of the elastic mold from the side thereof
opposite to the opening, the elastic mold is expanded to a a size
greater than that of the cast product, allowing the cast product
to be withdrawn. In addition, the cast product can be withdrawn
if the cast product is pushed from the side thereof opposite to
Accordingly, since the bottoms of cast products thus formed
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become level surfaces, it is possible to set them upright when
they are sold or displayed, so that the products are provided
with high product values.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The drawings i]lustrate an embodiment of the present
invention, in which
Fig. 1 is an overall block diagram;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view;
Figs. 3 and 4 are schematic diagrams explaining the
thickness of an elastic mold;
Figs~ 5 to 12 are schematic diagrams illustrating a filling
unit;
Fig. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating a leveling unit;
Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a withdrawal unit;
Fig. 15 is a cross-sectional view of a vacuum unit; and
Fig. 16 is a schematic diagram illustrating another example
of the withdrawal unit.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the illustrated examples, a reference will
be given of an embodiment of an apparatus for producing cast
products using a filling unit according to the present invention.
Fig. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall
configuration of the apparatus, and Fig. 2 is a partial
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perspective view.
As illustrated in the drawings, the present invention
comprises a filling unit 40 in which a filling material 11 is
fil:Led into an elastic mold 10, a solidifying unit 60 in which
the material 11 filled in the elastic mold 10 by the filling unit
40 is solidified, and a withdrawal unit 70 in which the filling
material 11 solidified inside the elastic mold 10 is withdrawn.
There units 40, 60j 70 are successively arranged along a transfer
conveyor 20, and are controlled by means of a control unit 30.
The transfer conveyor 20 is driven by a pulley 23 connected
to a motor 21 via a reducer 22 and intermittently travels between
each unit at a velocity preset with the control unit 30. In
addition, a multiplicity of fixing sheets 24 are fixed to the
conveyor 20 in parallel with the direction of conveyor travel.
Each fixing sheet 24 is provided with a fixing hole 25 which is
larger than the size of the final cast product 12.
The elastic mold 10 comprises an open-bag shaped filling
section 13 and a fixing member 14 formed near the opening of the
filling section 13. The shape of the filling section 13 is
spherical or cylindrical, or modeled after patterns of animals of
specific characters. After the filling material 11 is solidified
in the filling section 13, the filled material is adapted to
assume the configuration of the sphere, cylinder, animal or
character concerned.
The fixing member 14 is formed as a flange extending from
the filling section 13 and fixed to each of a multiplicity of
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fixing sheets 24 secured to the transfer conveyor 20. The fixing
member 14 is formed in such a manner as to allow the filling
material 11 to be filled freely into the filling section 13.
In addition, it is desirable to set the thickness of the
fixing member 14 slightly greater than that of the filling
section 13 since only the filling section 13 needs to be expanded
at the time of effecting expansion during a filling operation
using the filling unit 40 or during a withdrawing operation using
the withdrawal unit 70.
If the fixing member 14 and the filling section 13 are
formed with an identical thickness, as shown in Fig. 3, mainly
the fixing member 14 becomes elongated during expansion.
Consequently, the cast product 12 remains in the filling section
13 which has not been elongated sufficiently, thereby making it
impossible to effect a withdrawal operation of the cast product
12.
However, if the fixing member 14 is made thicker than the
filling section 13, as shown in Fig. 4, mainly the filling
section 13 becomes elongated, thereby facilitating the withdrawal
of the cast product 12 contained in the filling section 13.
Figs. 5 to 13 are diagrams individually explaining these
units.
Figs. 5 to 9 illustrate an example of the filling unit 40.
When the filling material 11 is a low-viscosity material
such as water, it suffices if the filling unit 40 is constituted
by a filling mechanism 42 in which the filling nozzle 41 is
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placed above the opening of the elastic mold 10 and the filling
material 11 is directly filled into the filling section 13 of the
elastic mold 10 through the filling nozzle 41.
In this case, the filling nozzle 41 of the filling mechanism
42 is placed above the elastic mold 10, and after the filling
nozzle 41 of the filling mechanism 42 has filled the material 11
into the elastic mold 10, the fixing sheet 24 is adapted to move
successively under the filling nozzle 41 by the intermittent
movement of the transfer conveyor 20 in order to continue the
filling operation.
However, when the filling material 11 is of high viscosity,
if the filling nozzle 41 of the filling mechanism 42 is located
in the vicinity of the opening of the elastic mold 10 and the
filling material 11 is filled directly from the filling nozzle 41
into the filling section 13 of the elastic mold 10, air is
trapped inside the filling section 13 of the elastic mold 10,
resulting in a solidified cast product 12 with cavities.
In such a case, as shown in Fig. 5, the filling unit 40 may
be constituted by a filling mechanism 42 and a vertical motion
mechanism 43 positioned above the filling mechanism 42. In this
configuration, the filling nozzle 41 of the filling mechanism 42
is lowered to the vicinity of the bottom of the filling section
13 of the elastic mold 10 over the transfer conveyor 20 by means
of the vertical motion mechanism 43. Filling is started at that
position, and the vertical motion mechanism 43 is operated while
the filling operation is being continued, and the filling nozzle
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41 is raised gradually, depending on a rate of filling.
Therefore, in this configuration, there must be certain
corresponding relationship between a filling velocity of the
filling mechanism 42 and a vertically moving velocity of the
vertical motion mechanism 43. In addition, each time the elastic
mold 10 is used which has a different sectional configuration in
the height-wise direction, the aforementioned filling velocity
and a vertically moving velocity must be varied. For this
reason, if the filling and vertically moving operations are
performed by a cam or the like, the change of cams in conjunction
with the change of elastic molds 10 is troublesome. Accordingly,
it is desired that the two variables, a filling rate per unit
time and the vertically moving velocity be controlled
simultaneously by a programmable control system using the control
unit 30.
Although in the foregoing description, a description has
been given that the filling mechanism 42 moves vertically by the
vertical motion mechanism 43, an arrangement may be alternatively
provided in which, contrary to the aforementioned case, the
filling mechanism 42 stays in its original position, while the
elastic mold 10 is moved up and down by the vertical motion
mechanism 43, since it suffices if the relative positions of the
elastic mold 10 and the filling nozzle 41 are offset from each
other during the filling operation.
When such units or components are assembled in a production
line, it is possible to adopt an intermittently moving system
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sucll as one in which the elastic mold 10 is made to stay during a
fil:Ling operation using the filling unit 40 and is then moved
after completion of the filling operation. Alternatively, the
filling unit 40 itself may be formed in such a manner as to be
transferable along the production line to fill the filling
material 11 from the filling unit 40 while the filling unit 40 is
being moved.
However, when the viscosity of the filling material 11 is
much higher, if the filling nozzle 41 is merely lifted in
conjunction with the filling of the filling material 11, as
described above, there are still cases where air bubbles are
trapped inside the filling section 13.
In such a case, it is possible to devise various measures by
taking note of the elasticity of the elastic mold 10.
For instance, as in the case of the embodiment of the
present invention shown in Fig. 6, and arrangement may be
provided such that the filling unit 40 is sucked under a vacuum
from the side of the elastic mold 10 opposite to the filling
nozzle 41, and filling is started after the elastic mold 10 is
expanded.
: More specifically, a vacuum mechanism 52 communicating with
a vacuum source 51 is provided on the side of the elastic mold 10
opposite to the filling nozzle 41, the elastic mold 10 being
located at the position of a predetermined fixing sheet 24.
; Subsequently, prior to starting the filling of the filling
material 11, the internal pressure of this vacuum mechanism 52 is
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decreased to expand the elastic mold 10.
The filling material 11 is filled into the elastic mold 10
in a state in which the elastic mold 10 has thus been expanded.
The amount of this filling material 11 filled is set to be
identical with an appropriate amount to be filled when the size
of the elastic filling mold 10 is normal.
Then, the filling material reaches only a part of the
elastic mold 10 which is being expanded.
After a predetermined amount of the filling material 11 has
been filled in the elastic filling mold 10, the vacuum source 51
is adjusted in such a manner that the internal pressure of the
vacuum mechanism will return to the normal pressure.
Then, the size of the elastic mold 10 is consequently
returned to the normal size, and since the filling material 11 is
filled in the elastic mold 10 during the returning process, the
trapping of air bubbles inside the elastic mold 10 is prevented
as a result.
As another example in cases where such a filling unit 40 is
used, it is possible to provide an arrangement in which the
filling material 11 in an amount about half the necessary amount
to be filled is filled temporarily with the elastic mold 10
expanded under a vacuum using the same means as described above,
and after the size of the elastic mold 10 is returned to a normal
size, the elastic mold 10 is expanded again, the filling material
11 in an amount equivalent to the remaining amount is then
filled, and the elastic mold 10 is further returned to the normal
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size to complete the filling operation.
As the cast product is thus formed, it is possible to
prevent air bubbles from becoming trapped in the elastic mold 10,
and it is possible to effect molding by using the elastic mold 10
which is thus made more precise.
Furthermore, for example, it is possible to provide the
following arranqement. The filling material 11 in an amount
about half the necessary amount to be filled is temporarily
filled by a primary filling unit with the elastic mold 10
expanded, and, after the elastic mold 10 is returned to its
normal size, the elastic mold 10 is pressed from both sides by a
pressing unit (not shown) to release the air contained therein.
The elastic mold 10 is then expanded again and the filling
material 11 in an amount equivalent to the remaining amount is
filled by using a secondary filling unit, and the elastic mold 10
is then returned to its normal size, thus completing the filling
operation. Incidentally, when such a filling unit 40 is used, it
is desirable that the entire system move intermittently to allow
the primary filling unit, the pressing unit, and the secondary
filling unit to be operated consecutively.
In addition, as examples of the filling unit 40, as in the
case of the embodiments shown in Figs. 7 and 8, by taking note of
the elasticity, which is a characteristic of the elastic mold 10,
the filling section 13 is brought into close contact with the
filling nozzle 41 in advance by means of a contact unit 50. If
the filling of the filling material 11 is started beginning with
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13166~9
that state, it is possible to prevent air bubbles from being
trapped.
The embodiment shown in Fig. 7 is arranged such that the
vacuum mechanism 52 connected to the vacuum source 51 is disposed
above the fixing sheet 24, and, as this vacuum mechanism is
operated, the filling section 13 is brought into close contact
with the filling nozzle 41.
In addition, the embodiment shown in Fig. 8 is arranged such
that a high-pressure mechanism 54 connected to a high-pressure
source 53 is disposed below the fixing sheet 24, and, as this
high-pressure mechanism is operated, the filling section 13 is
brought into close contact with the filling nozzle 41.
Whichever means is used, when starting to fill the filling
material from the filling nozzle 41 into the filling section 13,
the state is such that the elastic filling section 13 is brought
into close contact with the filling nozzle 41, i.e., no air
exists between the filling nozzle 41 and the filling section 13.
Therefore, if the filling of the filling material 11 is started
with a high pressure above the pressure generated by the vacuum
source 51 or the high-pressure source 53 by beginning with this
state, it is possible to carry out the filling operation of the
filling product 11 in which no air is trapped.
The example shown in Fig. 9 is arranged as follows: A
flexible tube 55 is provided to a distal end of the filling
nozzle 41, and a pressing mechanism 56 adapted to squeeze this
flexible tube 55 during the filling operation is provided. When
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the filling operation is started, the elastic mold 10 is squeezed
by t:his pressing mechanism 56. Subsequently, in this state, the
filling of the filling material 11 is carried out while the
elastic mold 10 is being gradually expanded with a pressure
slightly greater than that of the pressing mechanism 56.
If such an arrangement is adopted, the filling material 11
is filled into the elastic mold 10 which is squeezed and in which
practically no air exists. Thus, it is possible to fill the
filling material 11 into the elastic mold 10 without air bubbles.
In addition, there is a case where it is desirable to
produce the cast product 12 by using two or more kinds of
material. In such a case, if, for instance, a plurality of
different kinds of material are to be laminated in the height-
wise direction of the cast product 12, it is possible to produce
such a product by filling the filling material 11 comprising
different materials in a plurality of cycles by using the filling
unit 40 such as the one described above.
When the cast product 12 is produced by using two or more
kinds of material, there is a case where it is desirable to form
the cast product 12 into a double structure by dividing the
materials into an inside portion and outer peripheral portion of
the cast product 12.
Specifically, such cases include those in which whiskey is
filled inside chocolate, or ordinary chocolate and white
chocolate are formed into a double structure.
In such a case, the filling material is first made to adhere
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to the inner peripheral surface of the elastic mold 110, and
after the filling material 11 adhering to the inner peripheral
surface thereof is allowed to solidify to form a hollow cast
product 12. Subsequently, a different kind of filling material
11 is further filled in the inside thereof, and the filling
material 11 is finally solidified after it is further applied to
the filling section 13 on the side of the fixing member 14.
At this juncture, the following three means are available as
means for causing the filling material 11 to adhere to the inner
peripheral surface of the elastic mold 10.
As the first means, as shown in Fig. 10, the filling nozzle
41 is formed rotatably, and the filling material 11 is blown out
from the outer peripheral surface of a lower portion of the
filling nozzle 41. Subsequently, this filling nozzle is inserted
into the filling section 13, and as the filling material 11 is
blown out while the filling nozzle 41 is being rotated, it is
possible to allow the filling material 11 to adhere to the inner
peripheral surface of the elastic mold 10. Accordingly, if the
filling material 11 is solidified after the above-described
adhesion of the filling material is conducted, it is possible to
form a hollow cast product 12.
As the second means, the filling material 11 in an amount
which is equivalent to the amount to be filled is temporarily
filled inside the elastic mold 10, and the filling material 11
thus filled is solidified by the solidifying unit 60.
Since the solidification of such a filling material begins
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with the outer peripheral surface of the elastic mold 10, there
is a case where the peripheral surface portion of the filling
material 11 in the elastic mold 10 is solidified, while a central
portion thereof has not yet been solidified. Accordingly, before
the entire portion solidifies and when the outer peripheral
portion in the filling section 13 has been solidified, as shown
in Fig. 1 1, the unsolidified filling material in the central
portion of the filling section 13 is sucked by using a suction
nozzle 44 disposed inside the filling section 13, and the filling
material 11 on the inner peripheral surface of the elastic mold
10 is allowed to solidify, thereby producing the hollow cast
product 12.
As the third means, the filling material 11 is filled up to
about half of the filling section 13, and before this filling
material 11 solidifies,air is blown into the filling section 13
by a blowing nozzle 45, as shown in Fig. 12, so as to cause the
filling material 11 inside the filling section 13 to be blown
upward, thereby allowing the filling material 11 to be brought
into close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the
filling section 1 1 .
If solidification is effected in such a state, it is
possible to produce the hollcw cast product 12.
While the filling material 11 is being filled by the above-
described filling unit 40, there is a case where the elastic mold
10 is subjected to deformation depending on a filling pressure.
Furthermore, there is a case where the elastic mold 10 is
subjected to deformation by the weight of the filling material 11
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itself before it is allowed to solidify. In such cases, it is
possible to prevent deformation by disposing a jig (not shown]
below the elastic mold 10 to effect the filling operation, a
subsequent transferring operation, or the like.
Fig. 13 illustrates a bottom surface-leveling unit 90.
This leveling unit 90 is adapted to oscillate the elastic
mold 10 to the left and the right by an air pressure from an air
nozzle 91 after the filling material 11 has been filled inside
the elastic mold 10.
As the elastic mold 10 is oscillated to the left and the
right, the surface of the filling material 11 in the vicinity of
the opening of the elastic mold 10 is made level.
This process is carried out to improve the stability of the
cast product 12 solidified by the solidifying unit 60 and
withdrawn by the withdrawal unit 70 when the cast product 12 is
displayed for sale in an upright position.
When the air pressure is not used, for instance, it is
possible to provide a collision piece for being brought into
contact with the elastic mold 10 while the filling unit 40 is
being transferred after completion of the filling operation, so
that the elastic mold 10 is oscillated to the left and the right
as it is brought into contact with this collision piece.
In addition, since this leveling unit 90 can be used
effectively if it is used before complete solidification takes
place, the leveling unit 90 may be provided in the solidifying
unit 60.
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The solidifying unit 60 is used for solidifying the filling
material 11 inside the elastic mold 10. This unit comprises a
heating mechanism, a cooling mechanism, a combination thereof, or
another mechanism.
The specific arrangement of the solidifying unit 60 is
determined by the material of the filling material 11.
For instance, when the filling material 11 solidifies by
cooling, such as oils and fats, butter, margarine, chocolate,
cheese, jelly, ice cream, water, or the like, this solidifying
unit 60 is provided as the cooling unit.
On the contrary, if the filling material 11 hardens by
heating, such as a protein solution, fish cake, fish paste, a
rubber eraser, the solidifying unit 60 is provided as the heating
unit.
Furthermore, when the filling material 11 is a foodstuff,
there is a case where the filling material 11 needs to be
solidified and cooked. In such a case, a cooking unit may be
used by being attached to the solidifying unit 60.
In addition, in the present invention, since the elastic
mold 10 is used as the mold, even if the volume of the filling
material 11 increases or decreases when the filling material 11
is solidified by the solidifying unit 60, the elastic mold 10
will not break. In the case of the mold formed of a rigid body,
if, for instance, water is solidified as the filling material 11,
the volume will increase, so that there are cases where the mold
breaks by the internal pressure due to an increase in its volume.
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In the present invention, however, since the elastic mold 10
becomes elongated with an increase in the volume, breakage or the
like does not occur.
Figs. 14 and 15 illustrate the withdrawal unit 70 for
withdrawing the solidified cast product 12 from inside the
filling section 13 of the elastic mold 10.
Such a withdrawal unit 70 is capable of extruding the cast
product 12 since the elastic mold 10 can expand by virtue of its
elasticity if the cast product 12 is pressed from the side of the
elastic mold 10 opposite to the opening thereof. In addition,
after the opening is expanded in advance by an external force,
the cast product 12 can be extruded from the side of the elastic
mold 10 oppositè to the opening.
When either method is used, there are cases where the side
of the cast product opposite to the opening is subjected to
deformation. Accordingly, the following withdrawal unit 70 may
be used as a specific example of a method of preventing an
external force from being applied to only a certain portion of
the cast product 12.
Such a withdrawal unit 70 is arranged such that the filling
section 13 located below the fixing sheet 24 of the transfer
conveyor 20 is inverted by a pulley 23 so as to be located
thereabove, and as this filling section 13 is expanded, the inner
cast product 12 is allowed to drop onto a withdrawal conveyor 71
located below the withdrawal unit 70. Nevertheless, the
withdrawal of the cast product 12 may also be effected when the
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filling section 13 is in a horiæontal state.
Specifically, the withdrawal unit 70 comprises a rotary
shaft 72 adapted to rotate by the motor 21, a vacuum cam 73 fixed
to this rotary shaft 72, a transmission rod 74 adapted to vibrate
by the rotation of the vacuum cam 73, and a vacuum unit 75
pivotally supported at a distal end of this transmission rod 74.
The rotary shaft 72 is adapted to rotate by the same motor
21 as that for moving the transfer conveyor 20, in synchronism
with various other units. The vacuum cam 73 is formed as a front
cam fixed to the rotary shaft 72. The vacuum unit 75 is
connected to a vacuum source 76 and is adapted to keep a vacuum
chamber inside the vacuum unit 75 in a vacuum. Although a
detailed illustration is omitted, the vacuum source 76 is formed
of a vacuum pump, a valve, a pressure gauge, etc. The vacuum
chamber 77 has a size sufficient to cover the filling section in
which the cast product 12 is contained, and a cushion 78 is fixed
on an upper surface of the interior thereof.
This withdrawal unit 70 operates as follows: After the
filling material 11 filled inside the filling section 13 is
solidified by the solidifying unit 60, the filling section 13 is
inverted by the pulley 23 and is moved intermittently by the
transfer conveyor 20 in such a manner that the filling section 13
with the cast product 12 solidified therein is placed on the
upper side.
At this time, if the upper portion of the filling section 13
is covered with the vacuum chamber 77, and if the vacuum chamber
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77 is evacuated by the vacuum source 76, the elastic mold 10
formed of an elastic body expands in such a manner as to be
brought into close contact with the inner wall of the vacuum
chamber 77. At this time, since not only the filling section 13
of the elastic mold 10 but also the fixing member 14 are
subjected to deformation so as to contact the inner wall of the
vacuum chamber 77 as closely as possible. Therefore, an opening
which agrees with a fixing hole 25 of the fixing sheet 24 is
formed on the lower side.
In the embodiment, however, since the thickness of the
fixing member 14 is made greater than that of the filling section
13, the filling section 13 expands more than the fixing member 14
during expansion, and the fixing member 14 is elongated in such a
manner as to be deformed toward the side of the filling section
13 (see Fig. 4). Therefore, the withdrawal of the cast product
12 can be carried out readily.
Subsequently, the cast product 12 is released from the
elastic mold 10, and falls downward through the fixing hole 25 of
the fixing sheet 24 which is larger than the cast product 12.
The cast product 12 which has fallen down is placed on the
withdrawal conveyor 71 positioned below the withdrawal unit 70
and is transferred to a predetermined position.
If a vacuum is thus formed, the filling section 13 is
elongated in the direction in which the elastic mold 10 is liable
to be elongated, i.e., upwardly as viewed in the illustrated
example. Hence, there is a possibility that the filling section
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13 may collide against the upper surface of the interior of the
vacuum chamber 77 and its configuration may be damaged as a
result. In the illustrated example, however, the cushion 78 is
fixed to the upper surface of the interior of the vacuum chamber
77 to prevent such deformation.
In the illustrated example, a guide cam 79 is fixed on the
rotary shaft 72. This guide cam 79 is used to vertically move a
guide unit 80 for withdrawing the cast product 12 which has
fallen from the filling section 13 and for guiding th~ same to
the conveyor 71.
Although in the illustrated example, this vacuum chamber 77
is formed into the shape of a cylinder with a cover, a totally or
partially tapered chamber (not shown) is preferable because such
a shape permits the product 12 to fall freely from the interior
of the vacuum chamber 77.
However, with respect to the cast product 12 which is not
readily released from the mold by using the above-described
withdrawal unit 70 because of the complicated configuration of
the cast product 12 or due to the adhesion between the cast
product 12 and the filling section 13 of the elastic mold 10, it
is possible to provide a vertical motion unit 81 and a vacuum
sucking unit 82 on the guide unit 80, as shown in Fig. 15, and to
cause the cast product 12 to be released forcibly from the
elastic mold 10 by means of the vacuum sucking unit 82.
To give a more detailed description, by using the vertical
motion unit 81, the vacuum sucking unit 82 of the guide body 80
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is brought into proximity with the cast product 12 solidified in
the elastic mold 10, and is then made to suck the cast product 12
under a vacuum.
Subsequently, the internal pressure of the vacuum chamber 77
is reduced by the vacuum source 76, and the elastic mold 10 is
expanded inside the vacuum chamber 77.
At this juncture, since the cast product 12 remains sucked
by the vacuum sucking unit 81, only the elastic mold 10 is
expanded in a state in which the cast product 12 sucked by the
vacuum sucking unit 81. As a result, the cast product 12 is
removed from the elastic mold 10 at the position in which the
cast product 12 is sucked by the vacuum sucking unit 81.
Furthermore, when it is still difficult for the cast product
12 to be released by using such a means, the vacuum sucking unit
82 of the guide unit 80 is made to approach the cast product 12
inside the elastic mold 10 by using the vertical motion unit 81
shown in Fig. 16 and is made to suck the cast product 12 under a
vacuum. Subsequently, the vacuum sucking unit 82 is made to
further move upward by a slight degree.
Then, air enters a space between the cast product 12 and the
vicinity of the opening edge of the filling section 13 of the
elastic mold 10. Accordingly, if the elastic mold 10 is
subsequently expanded inside the vacuum chamber 77, the release
of the cast product 12 from the elastic mold 10 is started
beginning with the portion where air has entered. Thus it is
possible to effect more positively the release of the cast
`9`
product 12 from the elastic mold 10.
As a result of conducting various experiments, it was
verified that, when ice is produced as the cast product 12, if
the filling section 13 of the elastic mold 10 and the fixing
.~ember 14 are formed of a rigid latex having a thickness of 0.5
to 0.8 mm and 0.8 to 1.1 mm, respectively, and if the vacuum is
set to approximately 500 mmHg, the cast product 12 can be
released completely an~ drops in 0.5 to 1 second.
Since the overall configuration of the cast product 12 thus
produced is determined by the configuration of the filling
section 13 of the elastic mold 10, it is possible to produce the
cast products 12 of any configuration by fabricating a variety of
elastic molds.
Unlike a rigid mold, the elastic mold 10 can be mass-
produced at low costs, so that the cost of the cast product 12
itself can be reduced. In addition, unlike the split mold, no
mark of a joint is left, so that the finished cast product 12
assumes a very natural shape and its product value becomes high.
Furthermore, since it is unnecessary to split the mold into a
plurality of directions, the production process can be
simplified.
In addition, since the elastic mold 10 is used as the mold,
even if a change takes place in the volume of the filling
material 11 during the solidification process using the
solidifying unit 60, it i5 possible to sufficiently cope with
such a change by virtue of the expansion and contraction of the
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13166~9
elastic mold 10, so that the elastic mold 10 is not susceptible
to breakage.
Since the withdrawal unit 70 using a vacuum is employed to
effect withdrawal of the cast product 12, the cast product 12 is
not susceptible to breakage of its configuration during the
withdrawal process.
It should be noted that any material may be used for the
elastic mold 10 insofar as it is capable of elongating when
stretched, such as soft rubber, soft plastic or the like.
As described in detail herein, since an elastic mold having
an open-bag shaped filling section is used as the mold, it is
possible to produce cast products with no joint marks left.
Furthermore, it is possible to reduce the production cost of the
mold itself, prevent the breakage of the mold, and effect
substantial simplification of the production process, as well as
improve the stability of the cast product by leveling the bottom
portion thereof by leveling the portion of the elastic mold in
the vicinity of its opening, thereby enhancing the product value.
